Stowe Elementary School, Duluth, MN (01/27-02/03/10)

1/27/10, 1/28/10, 2/2/10, 2/3/10 Outreach Visit to Stowe Elementary School in Duluth, MN

1 entire elementary school with 350 students, grades K-5^th, 14 presentations over 4 days, ———an unbelievable challenge for Kathi and Magic, and Trish, Carole, Polly, Kathy J. and me.

The first 2 days with 8 of the 14 presentations done brought many heartfelt reactions from the 200 students and their teachers. These made all the hard work worth it. Here are excerpts from a few of the many students’ journal writings that teachers excitedly shared with us.

-“Thank you for teaching me that it is bad to abuse animals. I think you should go to every Duluth school.”

-“You taught us that we can make the call and give an animal a second chance. I am so glad you rescued WindChill.”

-“I barely knew about WindChill and you made me a horse lover. You taught me so much today.”

- “Thank you for showing me responsibility of taking care of animals. I know it was not that easy for you guys to take that much time to pay attention to take care of WindChill. I think it was really touching to me for you to do something so nice to save WindChill. “

-“I think that WindChill and Magic both really really appreciate what you did and are doing for them. I hope that you continue to have very much fun playing and giving attention to Magic.”

-“I think it is rude and mean to beat a horse. I hope that no other animals get beaten. I hope someday I will be able to take care of a horse that someone who was mean to and make that horse feel better.”

-“Thank you for coming and putting hard work into helping animals and making this for WindChill and other horses. You brought happiness to horses and it is kind and so awesome to do this for nothing in return.”

-“I hope you come again. You filled my heart with happiness and joy. It’s very touching that you are here to save animals in need. It is nice to know there’s someone who’s there and can count on you to work with animals that need you guys so much. I will never forget you.”

-“I hope a horse is never abused again. That would be sad.”

-“I will tell someone if anyone is letting a horse suffer. I would help a horse if it needs a home. I will make sure the horse is happy and give it shelter and food with lots of water.”

-“Thank you for teaching me to help animals in danger.”

-“it is so nice you teach kids about abuse because some kids don’t know abuse is that bad.”

And it wasn’t just the words but the drawings too that showed they got WindChill’s message loud and clear.

Thanks to a grandparent at another outreach, I got a call from the Stowe school secretary. She was told by that grandparent, that our program was a must. I drove out to Stowe for a meeting with the secretary and the principal. As I went through what we do with the kids, their excitement level as well as their eyes got bigger and bigger. They quickly made the decision that every student in the school needed to experience our program. They asked me if I could present our program at a faculty meeting.

At the faculty meeting every teacher agreed that this was great for their students. When I got the schedule from the secretary and saw how heavy it was, I asked Kathi if Magic could handle it. She said yes but she asked if I could. I said yes.

We are so happy we said yes. The last 2 days have been a very fun, thoughtful, insightful, rewarding, reflective time for all of us.

We have been treated so well by the entire school including the lunch ladies, hall monitors, and janitorial staff. The students make us feel like celebrities. Anywhere we go in the school, the students smile and wave to us and the teachers thank us. Magic is the biggest celebrity. Kathi could not understand why Magic was not getting in the trailer even though she had a treat in her hand. Kathi looked in the direction Magic was looking, and saw 25 1^st graders out for recess, waving at Magic and calling her name.

Kathi was very pleased with the parking arrangements and the direct entry into the classroom we were using. The classroom was huge with a big picture window. After each power point presentation, I would direct all the kids over to the window to watch Magic jump out of the trailer and take the snow laden walkway to the classroom door. It was pure joy each time to hear the squeals of delight as the kids got the first glimpse of Magic, watching her unique style of walk with her mane blowing in the wind…..it was awesome. She is so darn cute. All of us will remember each and every time the students reacted to that scene. What an entrance Magic made…..

Sometimes Kathi would open the trailer door (or as a student called it Magic’s dressing room) only to close it again. What a tease!!!! This pushed the anticipation level extremely high. There was one time when she opened the door 3 times before finally deciding Magic was ready to come out. It was so unbearable for those students waiting anxiously.

Here is what some of the students wrote about Magic in their journals.

- “I love you Magic.” (many times)

-“I felt happy when I petted her.”

-“Magic is a cool horse.”

-“Magic’s fur is so soft and fluffy.”

-“I hope Magic will live forever because she is a wonderful and beautiful horse.”

-“I liked her fuzzy fur on her body.”

-“I appreciate you bringing Magic. I would love to have her.”

-“Every horse should have a star like Magic’s,”

I had to visit Stowe a number of times to deliver posters, teacher activity materials, permission slips, and books. I was always stopped by a parent or grandparent who told me how excited the kids were. At the last 2 PTA meetings the upcoming WindChill Legacy visit was the hot topic. Parents would tell me how important it was for their child to hear about WindChill and the message on abuse and neglect. My lunch at a local restaurant was interrupted by 2 grandmothers (from a previous outreach group) who told me how excited their grandkids were to show them the Legacy permission slips they needed signed. I invited both of the grandmothers to come and they did.

Wednesday 1/27/10 Day 1

Kathi and Magic had a rough drive in. The roads were very slick from the storm Sunday and Monday. Kathi had to go slow and it was hard pulling a trailer up the hills. The trailer swayed a couple of times. Magic got bounced around. Kathi took a short cut over a bridge just as a very loud train was going over head. Kathi said she could feel Magic moving around in the trailer at the unusual sound. What a nightmare drive for both Kathi and Magic.

The minute we walked into the school there was a buzz. Students and adults looked in the classroom, but to their disappointment no Magic. Janitor Dan was waiting patiently for me in the classroom. He said, “They have told me that this horse is trained and has not had an accident yet.” I said yes but you never know. I explained how she swishes her tail to warn us. He thought it over and helped us get things together. Just before our first presentation, he came in with a big water filled bucket and mop. 2 times during the day he came running in looking around. The kids told him there was a mess to clean up. (Of course they were prompted by me).

The halls and lunchroom were alive with chatter all day long as students who had seen our presentation and Magic talked about her.

Jeff’s niece stopped by and brought some friends with her to see Auntie Kathi. She was in 4^th grade and was excited we were coming. Later on when her group came in and I said to the niece it was so nice meeting you this morning, her teacher said, “Now I understand why she and her friends were so late to my class.” She looked them in the eye and said, “……visiting Auntie Kathi.”

We had a good laugh when one boy wrinkled up his nose and told Magic she smelled like his Grandmother’s house. Another boy shouted out, as Kathi showed Magic’s teeth, “Holy Cow that’s nasty!” One girl said I wish every horse had a lucky star like Magic’s.

The teacher of I group had a good laugh. When I asked how many of her students had a horse for a pet, most of them raised their hands. The teacher looked them squarely in the eye and said, “In your imaginations.”

One girl said. “I can’t see WindChill but WindChill can see me.”” No, I can see him in my imagination.”

Kathi was pleased at how engaging the students were. Teachers said they made the whole week a horse activity week using Legacy teacher materials.

1 student was allergic and could not pet Magic. Jeff will be busy this weekend writing Magic’s message into a Molly the Pony book, donated by Linda Johnsen. However I did catch her giving Magic a final full around the belly hug as she left. I was horrified and talked to her. She said she was going out to wash her hands so if she accidently touched her eyes they would not swell up. I immediately told her teacher.

We left for the day on a very happy note, looking forward to tomorrow.

Thursday 1/28/10 Day 2

The janitor’s mop and bucket full of water stood in the same place as before, unused.

Kathi parked half on the sidewalk making it a little bit of a leap for Magic to get in and out of the trailer. Kathi asked us if we saw the cow jump over the moon, straight up in the air, Magic did getting into the trailer. We all watched the 2^nd time and sure enough Magic really did have good air time.

Again we had good students and engaging presentations all day long.

One 3rd grade boy, who was allergic to horses, shouted out, “What happened to WindChill’s boarder?” I explained. Another asked, “What happened to the owner then? “ Kathi explained. I later caught the boy who was allergic, bear hugging Magic as he was leaving the room. He sheepishly said,” I couldn’t resist any longer.” I did tell the teacher just in case.

One girl asked how much money she would need to buy Magic. Kathi said priceless. Another said, “When I get bigger and I get a horse, I’m going to name it WindChill.” One child asked if a Magic could swim. They asked to feel her hooves. “Does Magic need her tail cut. It looks awful long and she might trip. “I told her Magic needed it long for fly swatting. “I’ll never forget Magic.”

One student called us Magic’s stage crew.

These students were deep thinkers like yesterday. They asked some hard questions.” I wonder what WindChill felt when he was dying.” “Why was this done to WindChill?” One boy answered, “They knew no one would catch them.” Kathi remarked how brave the kids were to talk about their own personal stories of abuse and neglect. Kathi really listens closely when the students are discussing the deep thinking questions I put to them.

The kids talked about crying when they heard WindChill had died. The teacher told them it was normal to feel sad about WindChill. One girl said, “I wish WindChill were here for us to pet.”

With Magic they were very respectful. Their hands were full of Legacy giveaways but they set them on the table before hugging Magic. They were worried about poking her. Magic was in her glory with lots of neck scratches and hugs. Some of the kids were so good at scratching her neck that Magic didn’t want to move on to the next student.

Kathi said Magic was really happy today.

Again the kids pulled the same prank on the janitor. He wised up from yesterday. He told us that from now on he is telling the kids to come with him to help clean it up.

One of the funniest moments that made all of us laugh was when I told students about Olivia the cat. All of a sudden one girl said she had a sister who was named Olivia and then about 15 girls chimed in with who they knew named Olivia, friends, grandmother, cat, mother, an aunt, cousin. Then a boy spoke up about his week old baby brother named Olivia.

Stowe provided lunch for us each day. We ate what the kids ate-Pizza, tacos, hot dogs, pudding, salads, apples, bananas, fresh strawberries, corn, fresh veggies, ice-cream. The lunch ladies were only too glad to fill up our trays. Students were waving in the lunch room and yelling I love you to all of us. They asked, “Where is Magic?” “Is she having lunch?”

We decided to eat in the faculty room.

As teachers came in to eat lunch, we were thanked so much by those who had heard our presentation and “can’t waits I have heard so many good things “by those that had not come to our presentations yet. Teachers said they had used the Legacy teacher materials and the books and the kids were really into it. Another teacher said our presentation was very in tune with what the kids needed.

One teacher asked if I had ever been a teacher. “It shows.” she said. One teacher said one student was impressed at how the stall WindChill was in was so safe. Another told us that one student wrote 3 pages on how soft Magic’s fur was and how the softness made her feel.

A teacher told us that her students, who were journaling, got so caught up in writing about our presentation, that they didn’t realize it was lunch time. The kids kept writing, ignoring her pleas to get moving to the cafeteria. She had to take the pencils away for them to get going to lunch.

Teachers told us that at the faculty meeting last night, we were the hot topic of discussion—- how great how presentations had been.

2 TV stations came to film us. Just before school let out the principal announced to the whole school what channel and time to tune in.

The day went by fast and we were on our last presentation. Magic teased the last group by suddenly coming to a complete stop outside the door when she should have just come straight in. She was busy looking at her reflection. Kathi started laughing and let her look a bit.

Then Kathi found a way to tease the kids as they were coming out of school. She left Magic’s trailer door open. Kids walked by to look inside hoping to catch a glimpse of Magic when Magic was really inside looking out at them from the big picture window. It was funny to see so many take that look and then see us waving back at them and they waving back at Magic. Even the on duty school patrol had to come over to take a peek. Of course we thought that was a complete irony that all the school kids were outside and Magic, a horse, was inside the school.

Words cannot express the whole 2 days of pure joy. It went so smoothly. Everyone pitching in where needed. The kids were very respectful and well mannered. They were excited, thankful, loving, interested, and engaging. They got the message and Magic was loved. She is going to have an ego a mile wide. We left those 2 days tired but with a genuine sense of accomplishment. We are looking forward to the next 2 days.

Tuesday 2/2/10 Day 3

The day started out with an awesome moment thanks to Trish. She came in with a package and in it was a pink backpack full of pink horse tools. Magic loved it and it got a big laugh from the students. Now Magic has 2 school backpacks.

The principal as usual came in to say hi and tell us we were awesome. He said, “Teachers are talking big stuff about you guys.” He came in a couple of more times to touch Magic’s star for good luck. He was a true believer. He seemed to come in a lot today just when Magic was jumping out of the trailer. He loved hearing the squeals of delight from the kids. His face just lit up every time. The principal started this day like every day touching Magic’s star. He said he had great luck so far. He did come in a few more times today to touch her star so he must have really needed it.

We were really surprised at the amount of feedback we got from the teachers. After the programs they came up to talk to us. As we walked in the halls they came up to talk to us. Any where we crossed paths with a teacher, an appreciative comment was made.

Teachers were impressed at how well we worked as a team. Kathi said that is because we have a common goal. Teachers could not believe that we had not known each other until 1 1/2 years ago when WindChill brought us together.

We heard a teacher telling another staff person, “Magic sure spreads her love all over.” The staff member replied, “This is an excellent opportunity to talk about feelings back in the classroom.” Another teacher said, “You have to know you are doing great stuff.”

The teacher from the last presentation today said, “I had several students that either forgot or just didn’t bring in their permission slips for parent/teacher conferences, however not one forgot their permission slips for Magic. Amazing isn’t it?”

One teacher stopped us to say “What was done to WindChill was cruelty beyond belief. “ She wondered what made people step over that line. Another told me that her 3^rd grade students were so excited to get the WindChill Legacy pens that she was going to let them use them all day for writing assignments.

Teachers stopped by the room to say how nice it was to receive thank you notes. After every outreach I always send a teacher a thank you and one for the students also. Carole and I were happy to see the thank you notes displayed on classroom bulletin boards.

During lunch teachers told us that last Friday, after 2 days of our presentations, there was a teacher inservice. The school had a consultant come in to talk about helping children who suffered the effects of neglect and abuse. The teachers told the consultant about us and how what we are doing is so good and what a good vehicle and stepping stone we are for them to start the conversation with the kids. Another teacher suggested we contact one of the Duluth universities for a graduate student to do a thesis on what we do and how it affects the students and how Magic is great therapy for kids.

One teacher said for her, it was love at first site with Magic. “Magic is the cutest thing I have ever seen.” During her lunch she called her husband and told him she wanted a mini horse.”

It was so much fun walking the halls too. The little ones would come running up to give me a hug. Others gave waves. I was so touched that I made connections with them.

During one presentation, as students were walking to their seats a young man said to me, “I have never seen a horse before.” I told him he was in for a real treat. One boy said he knew of another horse that was rescued. He talked about Molly the Pony. (The teacher had read one of our horse activity books in class.)

Kathi could not believe it, after showing Magic’s teeth; the teachers told her that February is Dental Health month.

Gramma Carole and I had the pleasure of delivering 2 Molly the Pony books to a girl and boy who were allergic to Magic. It is so gratifying to see the look of surprise and then the happy grin at being special. We also delivered a set of donate horse books to the Library. (Thanks to a very generous book donation from Deb Moyer.)

I almost did a really embarrassing thing but Trish saved the day by correcting it in the nick of time. I left out a letter in a word so any child reading it would pronounce it wrong and it was not a word fit for school. The title I misspelled it in would have given a whole new meaning to our presentation. WHEW!!! Of course the team laughed and said I HAD to put this in the write-up.

Wednesday 2/2/10 Day 4

This was our last day at Stowe. The principal was out of town at a conference. The building was all ours. As Gramma Carole said it felt like home, we belonged there.

As kids were dropped off, they walked past Magic’s trailer. A parent lifted her little one up to a small window to see Magic. Kathi laughed because Magic is too small to see from the high trailer window.

We had special visitors today, grandmas and great grandmas. One of them said, “This will touch kids’ lives forever.”

Again there were some gems spoken by the students. One girl asked, “Can Magic put on her new backpack?” (Afterwards Kathi told us Magic could but it would be hard getting it off for petting.) One boy made the comment that Magic’s hooves sounded like women in tall high heels.” A girl added, “Pink Ones!” (Magic’s favorite color is pink.)

One student had us all laughing with his answer to the question: What was WindChill’s favorite flavor of yogurt? Some of the kids said vanilla, blueberry, banana. His reply was HAY.

It was an awesome moment when I was talking about telling someone you trust if you see an animal in need or being abused. One girl said she would take a picture with her mind so she could give all the details to the person she trusted. A boy also raised his hand to comment that he would tell someone if he saw a bully hurting a person, but not his mom because she used to take fingerprints and still had her gun and would use it.

During lunch, a 4^thgrader walked into the lounge with a poem he was taught when he was younger. He handed me the paper with a picture of 2 horses walking in water on a sandy beach. The poem: Food, water, shelter, space, and an animal’s habitat is a special place. He had recited the poem during my presentation and I had been impressed. He told us how much he liked hearing about WindChill and petting Magic. He told us that right now the boy who received a Molly the Pony book from Magic was reading Magic’s message to the class. He said with a straight face, “How did Magic write the message. I didn’t know she could write with a pen.” We all kept a straight face until he left. Then Kathi said, “The boy really truly believed Magic wrote that.” A teacher said that is what is so great about kids; they believe what they want to believe.

During lunch the teacher of a first grade class who had the last presentation of the day told us during lunch that the question of the day was if her students were taller than THE HORSE. All but one said they thought they would be taller. They found out they were.

Every time we came back from lunch these past 4 days, we found stacks of student thank you notes, letters, and pictures.

Again Kathi remarked at how excited these kids were at getting pens.

A parent, whose son saw our presentation the day before, came in on our last day to see Magic for herself. She said her son came home last night and talked about WindChill and Magic. Her exact words were, “My son told me everything. He was so over the top and I got excited so I had to see for myself.”

“Thank you for that great performance. I love your bridle Magic. Hope to see you again soon.” said one girl as she gave up her hugging spot to another waiting student.

“Every time I think of WindChill I feel sad.” said one boy.

“Will you come back next year?” One girl asked Magic as she left the room.

Lastly we will all remember the little girl who came in to see Magic and asked her mother where the horn was. She thought Magic was not a real horse unless she had a horn like a unicorn.

One teacher said she can imagine when the kids are older and look back at their elementary years; this will be the highlight they remember

I will always remember the little boy who had never touched a horse before. He was in the lunch room waiting in line to get his tray of food. I was behind him. He asked if I was getting something to eat. I said yes. He said”Good because you said you get cranky when you do not eat.” He also told me I could sit with him in the lunchroom. Kathi was behind me and cracking up. She was so touched that he was so concerned that I get something to eat.

Even Gramma Carole was a celebrity in the lunch room. Students came up to talk to her about Magic. One boy told her he put his Legacy magnet on the fridge as soon as he got home last night. “

I know Janitor Dan will remember us fondly after 4 days of being pranked. Janitor Dan was very, very wise to the false alarms on the 4^th day. However there was a break in the 5^th grade presentation as Magic swished her tail and went out to the trailer to take care of her business. This gave me time to explain to the 5th graders that they would have to think of something really innovative to convince Janitor Dan that finally what he expected all along would happen, did. Well they did the job because he came running with a big orange shovel and a broom only to find out false alarm again.

Kathi and Magic, Polly, Trish, Kathy J. Gramma Carole and I put in some long hours. However we all agreed it was worth it. We may get misty-eyed when talking about our fond memories of the 4 days we spent at Stowe Elementary. We will never forget the squeals of delight and gasps of wonderment, from both boys and girls of all ages, the teachers, the janitor, and yes the principal, as they caught their first glimpse of Magic coming out of her trailer. There was the vivid contrast of her thick rich reddish brown winter coat standing out against the white snow, the breeze gently blowing her mane and forelock, giving the kids a good look at her cute face, with her big eyes, and her white snippy nose.

Our hearts are full of gratefulness as we were given as much as we gave. There is nothing like seeing a young child give Magic a hug from their loving heart. There is nothing like hearing over and over again that this program is what the kids needed. There is nothing like being told by staff that you don’t have any idea of how powerful you are in getting WindChill’s message across.